What do you think Ohio should do, if anything, to address algal blooms? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

COLUMBUS, Ohio— Gov. John Kasich is set to sign into law new agricultural regulations that mark Ohio’s largest effort yet to combat algal blooms on Lake Erie and other state waterways.

However, state officials and environmentalists each called the legislation, which requires farmers who use commercial fertilizer to be certified by the state, only a good first step. And the Ohio Department of Agriculture said it’s still unclear what impact the new rules will have to curb the foul-smelling, toxic blooms.

Under Senate Bill 150, starting in 2017, farmers using fertilizer must first take a state-run certification course that teaches things such as how much fertilizer to use on a plot of land and when it should be applied, according to Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Erica Hawkins.

Farmers who voluntarily develop nutrient management plans would be given legal protections under the bill.

Hawkins said the bill will help address the causes of algal blooms. But she said it’s not clear how much the certification process will do to curb the problem, as there’s still little scientific research into the issue.

SB 150, she said, will help with that research by allowing state agricultural officials to track how much fertilizer is sold in various parts of the state.

“This is a good first step in order to try and get a better grip on the situation,” Hawkins said.

Jack Shaner of the Ohio Environmental Council said the bill marks Ohio's "first big step" toward stopping algal blooms, though he said state policymakers still need to do much more to resolve the problem.

For one thing, Shaner said, the legislation doesn’t cover animal manure waste, which he said is another significant source of the phosphorus runoff that algae thrive on.

Shaner said he suspects Ohio eventually will need to pass fertilizer restrictions that are mandatory, not voluntary.

Follow Us

cleveland.com is powered by Plain Dealer Publishing Co. and Northeast Ohio Media Group. All rights reserved (About Us).The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Northeast Ohio Media Group LLC.